Question 1

How do you authenticate an antiquarian book before purchase?

Accepted Answer

Every La Librairie Antique listing explicitly mentions the first edition status (E.O. or 1st edition), print run, publication date (colophon), binding type (leather, parchment, gilding), format (12mo, folio, etc.), and detailed condition (foxing, dampstains, repairs if any). We provide multiple high-resolution photos. For items above 500 EUR, a provenance certificate is included when available.

Question 2

Do you ship to the United States? Will I pay import duties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Antiquarian books ship duty-free to the USA under HTS code 9903.01.31 ("informational materials" exception, still valid after the August 2025 de-minimis suspension). Delivery: 7-12 days via Colissimo International tracked, 3-5 days via DHL Express. State sales tax may apply depending on your state (typically 0-9%).

Question 3

What payment methods do you accept from international buyers?

Accepted Answer

All major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB), PayPal with Buyer Protection (recommended for non-EU customers), SEPA bank transfer for Europe, and SWIFT international wire for orders above 2000 EUR. Stripe-secured checkout (PCI-DSS Level 1).

Question 4

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

30-day return window for international buyers. Full refund (including return shipping) if the book does not match our description. Convenience returns: buyer covers return postage, refund issued upon receipt of the book in its original condition.

Question 5

How can I verify a first edition?

Accepted Answer

A first edition (often abbreviated E.O. in French) is the first published version of a work. Identifiers: print run statement at the front/back, colophon date, paper and format specifications, reference bibliographies (Vicaire, Carteret for French literature, Sadleir for 19th century English literature). Every listing mentions first edition status explicitly when applicable.

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Livres anciens, de collection

Covarrubias’ Legal Treatise for Philip II (1610) – Rare Folio❦ Droit Covarrvvias A Leyva Toletani Episcopi Segobiensis Philippi II 1610

Tragedy of Seneca's Death❦ TRISTAN La mort de Sénèque Tragédie Edition critique publiée par Jacques Madelei

Rousseau’s 1817 Music Dictionary❦ ROUSSEAU Jean-Jacques.- Dictionnaire de Musique 1817

Rimbaud’s Verses and Prose in 1949 Edition❦ Rimbaud Arthur Oeuvres de Arthur Rimbaud – Vers et proses 1949 Claudel

Art in Modern Life: 300 Engravings❦ L’ART DANS LA VIE MODERNE – 300 GRAVURES vers 1937

French military aviation manual❦ Aviation bombardier reconnaissance chasse

Surrealist medium: rare surrealist journal issues❦ Surréalisme MÉDIUM. Informations surréalistes Jean Schuster

Spices and Lost Pages by Huysmans❦ HUYSMANS Drageoir aux Epices suivi de Pages retrouvées

Exploration of Mysteries in Asia❦ OSSENDOWSKI L’homme et le mystère en Asie 1925

Vuillard’s intimate sketches in 1919 Arches paper edition❦ Géraldy dessins de Vuillard Toi et moi 1919 sur vergé d’arches

Nordenskjöld’s Antarctic Expedition❦ Antarctique NORDENSKJÖLD Au Pôle Antarctique

Balzac’s Comédie humaine reference guide❦ Répertoire de la Comédie humaine de H. de Balzac 1887

Breton Muse: 1850–1950 Art from Rennes❦ La Muse bretonne Collections du musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes de 1850 à 1950

Founders of Religious Orders❦ Fondateurs des ordres religieux ill-Barentin

Kipling’s Mountain Tales in French❦ KIPLING (Rudyard) Simples Contes de la Montagne 1929

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